Kevin Spacey pleads not guilty in Massachusetts court over alleged sexual assault of teenager

More than 30 men have claimed they were victims of unwanted sexual advances by Kevin Spacey

Kevin Spacey pleads not guilty to groping charge

Actor Kevin Spacey appeared at a Massachusetts court over a criminal charge that he sexually assaulted an 18-year-old male at a bar in Nantucket.

The Nantucket allegations were first raised by former Boston television journalist Heather Unruh, who told reporters the former House of Cards star groped her teenage son on July 7, 2016, at a restaurant and bar where he worked.

Spacey pleaded not guilty.

He is charged with indecent assault and battery, which is a felony. If convicted, the he faces a maximum of five years in prison and would be required to register as a sex offender.

Spacey—wearing a paisley shirt, blue tie and a grey suit—entered the small standing-room only courtroom crowded with locals and journalists. He did not speak throughout the entirety of the hearing. Although Spacey said earlier that he would plead not guilty, he was not asked to enter a not guilty plea.

Under Massachusetts law does not require the defendant to state their not guilty plea.

In the arraignment hearing, Judge Thomas S Barrett granted Spacey’s attorney request to preserve cloud and cellphone information for six months after the date of the alleged crime for evidence. The evidence in question is a one-second Snapchat video the alleged victim sent to his girlfriend. The video footage reportedly shows a hand grabbing a clothed area.

The alleged victim is being represented by Mitchell Garabedian, a Boston-based lawyer with a prolific history of prosecuting predatory priests in the diocese.

The House of Cards actor tried to avoid appearing in court for his arraignment hearing, arguing that his “presence will amplify the negative publicity already generated in connection with this case,” in a motion filed by his legal team.

But on Monday, Judge Thomas S Barrett said Space will not be required to appear in physical form for his preliminary hearing. Instead, he must be available to reach by phone. Prosecutors did not request bail for Spacy. He was told to not contact the alleged victim or any witnesses.

His next court date is March 4.

 

Follow events from the court appearance as they happened

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[7 January 2019 16:22 · Sarah Harvard]

Mr Spacey is seen leaving the courthouse. He is ordered to stay away from the victim and witnesses. 

[7 January 2019 17:40 · Lucy Anna Gray]

That's all for our coverage of Kevin Spacey's court hearing. Thanks for following along.